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Good morning, Newport! 👋  Today is Monday, Sept. 15, the 258th day of 2025. There are 107 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

Looking at the City of Newport’s latest newsletter, two items stand out for residents:

Free Composting Program Launches for Newport Residents

Newport has partnered with 11th Hour Racing, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, and Black Earth Compost to offer 1,500 eligible residents free weekly curbside food scrap collection through a two-year pilot program running from October 5, 2025 through October 2, 2027, according to the City of Newport newsletter. The program provides a $149.99 annual value service at no cost, plus a free starter kit worth $36. Participants also receive composting instructions, a free cubic foot bag of finished compost each spring, and online account management. Space is limited and interested residents can sign up at BlackEarthCompost.com/Newport.

City Council Meeting Relocated After Elevator Malfunction

Tonight’s City Council meeting will be held at Pell Elementary School (35 Dexter St.) at 6:30 p.m. after Wednesday’s scheduled meeting was cancelled due to an elevator malfunction at City Hall, the City of Newport newsletter reports. The meeting is open to the public, and residents can view the full agenda and supporting documents at CityofNewport.com/CouncilDockets or provide advance public comment through the E-Comment system. For those unable to attend, the proceedings will be available on-demand at CityofNewport.com/TV.

Full newsletter available here.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. Newport International Boat Show announces 2025 Newport for New Products award winners
  2. Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID-19 in the fall of 2025
  3. Letter to the Editor: Portsmouth proud
  4. Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County names new CEO
  5. Coming Home: At 89, Alice Bowman finds purpose in life’s fifth season
  6. Notes: St. Mary’s Church marks 72nd anniversary of Kennedy wedding today
  7. URI launches study abroad program honoring late Newport resident Earl Smith
  8. San Diego Yacht Club captures second Rolex NYYC Invitational Cup title
  9. Oracle surge briefly makes Newport mansion owner Larry Ellison world’s richest person before Musk reclaims title
  10. On the Market: A look at 66 Open Houses in Newport County (Sept. 13 – 14)

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
  • Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: NNE wind 5 to 8 kt becoming E in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: E wind 5 to 7 kt becoming variable and less than 5 kt in the evening. Partly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 64 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 6:26 am. Sunset at 6:54 pm. 12 hours & 28 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 2:32 am & 3:08 pm. Low tide at 7:45 am & 10:34 pm.
  • The lunar phase is a Waning Crescent.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

  • Firehouse Theater: NEE JAM: North End Entertainment Jam at 7 pm
  • Newport Craft: Bingo at 6 pm
  • Newport Harbor Island Resort: Music Bingo at 6:30 pm
  • One Pelham East: Bruce Jacques at 9 pm
  • Perro Salado: John Monllos at 5:30 pm
  • Stoneacre Garden: Mah Jongg Monday at 6 pm
  • The Fastnet Pub: The Ubiquitones at 10 pm

Newport County Public Meetings

Cruise Ship Schedule

  • Monday, Sept. 15: Sojourn & Norwegian Getaway
  • Thursday, September 18: Caribbean Princess
  • Saturday, September 20: Splendor
  • Sunday, September 21: Aurora & Enchanted Princess

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...